Michac regarded it curiously. He confessed ignorance. Then, on second thought, he added:
“It is strange. Yet it looks like a tiny gun such as children might make were they expert gunsmiths. Is it a toy?”
“The deadliest known to man,” said Mr. Hampton. And he explained.
“Would we be deprived of these if we went to the Inca’s palace?”
“Nay, I doubt it.”
“Then we can take them,” said Don Ernesto, who had been listening closely. “That is good.”
“But, under a flag of truce——”
“My friend,” said Don Ernesto, “you are quixotic. We risk our lives in a quixotic venture, as it is, if we go to attempt to obtain Prince Huaca’s release. At least let us take advantage of this fortunate circumstance that pistols are unknown here and carry our weapons as protection against treachery. For, though Senor Michac says a flag of truce will be respected, you must remember we are dealing with the High Priest Cinto and his nephew, not with the Inca, and they already have tried to assassinate Prince Huaca and then carried him off captive. Though why,” he added, “he was not assassinated this second time, but merely made prisoner, I cannot see.”
“Perhaps they thought better of it,” said Mr. Hampton. “What think you, Senor?” he added, addressing Michac.
“Nay, I do not know. The plans of this Cinto are beyond my understanding. Yet it may be he repented of having directed assassination and when his spies within the fortress reported failure of the plan, he was glad. For Prince Huaca is beloved of the people, and there might have been an uprising; whereas, if he be but prisoner, men will not so willingly put their lives in danger. An it may be, too,” he added, as an afterthought, “that the man captured by you on the battlement was not sent to slay but to aid in the capture of Prince Huaca. It may be that the story he told of being sent to slay was false, and was told the prince in order to cloak the real design. For the man, as it has been proven, had little to fear. He was released from his fetters by traitors within the fortress, and escaped during the night, probably with those who carried off the prince.”